I write to the committee as an Internet user, developer and as the Technology
director for a school. I have reviewed the new Recommendation which allows
for RAND licenses. I look back at the success of the Internet and I am
concerned that the inclusion of RAND licensing for Internet Standards will
radically change the nature of the Internet.
For example, I work at a school where funding is extremely limited. We have
tried for the sake of our students, and for the sake of the larger community
to actively take a role in the Internet. We take this role through the
education that we provide our students. Now I see a future where key
'standard' protocals may be financially beyond our reach. Our students will
no longer have the oppertunity to learn the standards that stand behind the
Internet, nor perhaps will we be able to provide access to all of the
critical tools needed by an educated Internet user. If the use of the
Internet, or key Internet tools now requires us to pay fees we may have to
drop those parts of the Internet from our educational process.
I understand that as the uses and protocols of the Internet expand the
process of protocol development may bump up against existing technologies,
some of which may be patented. But I am believe that it is in the best
interest of the Internet and the W3C to avoid taking the easy road of
adopting patented technologies over the perhaps more difficult road of
developing new tools that meet the needs of the Internet community while
avoiding any possiblity that the cost of use for some protocols will deny
access to all users.
Sincerely,
John Hansknecht